We've all read the dystopian fiction, watched those apocalyptic movies and heard a myriad of prophetic warnings heralding our obsolescence. Surely now we're just a couple of years from flipping the switch on a Skynet of our own making and condemning mankind to the annals of history.

Actually, we're not entirely sure what the future holds, but it's probably not fire and brimstone.

For detractors and naysayers of technology, could there be a more fitting image than Terminator 2's opening shot? A hulking, skeletal, humanoid machine crushing a human skull beneath its foot. Listening to ‘techno-skeptics' can sure make it feel as though that's the end which inevitably awaits us. If we continue down our current path of imbuing machines with increasing levels of autonomy, learning abilities and artificial intelligence, eventually we'll inadvertently construct our own obsolescence - if not destruction! We must be careful, unless we want to find ourselves subjugated by a machine army...

If you ask me, however, the need to bow before new robot overlords isn't coming any time soon. In fact, it couldn't be further from the truth.

...The Way of The LudditesOn the surface, mechanization and automation can appear daunting ideas, for sure. The notion that we may soon be replaced by machines is a harrowing concept, one we've unfortunately seen in action before (here's looking at you, Luddites).

That said, we've now been automating things in one way or another since 240 BC, when the Greek engineer, Ctesibius, invented the water clock. Nonetheless, we've somehow managed to go over 2,200 years without making ourselves entirely redundant! Yet today there remains a handful of people who still claim, ‘the [proverbial] End is nigh'.

History has shown automation does have the potential to disrupt industry - and in the process of doing so, it simply changes our concept of work and jobs. Rarely, however, has it ever sounded the death knell for the need of human input. It can cause periods of displacement to human workers in the short-term, but in the long-term, automation has proved a benefit to our species.

Automated looms signaled the beginning of the end for those infamous Nottinghamshire weavers, while the rest of us benefited from more affordable clothing and fabric. However, as skilled artisans, the Luddites weren't without work for long: after the invention of the sewing machine in 1846, the much-disputed textile industry underwent a resurgence in terms of human work.

If anything, automation has been a key driver in our continued success story: for every job lost, at least one more is often created. This has, in effect, doubled our ability to produce.

A study by consultancy firm Deloitte confirms this. They propose that over the course of the last 140 years, the advent of technology has created more jobs than it has deposed. The study shows the number of us performing repetitive manual work has plummeted, while those employed within, for example, carer roles or the technology sector, has sky-rocketed. It's true mechanization and automation has all but eliminated human input in certain industries, such as agriculture (in the late 1800s, approximately 7% of the British population were classed as agricultural laborers. Today, it's about 0.2%: a drop of 95%). Automation is removing the need for us to perform manual muscle work and lets us focus on more innovative projects.

That's not to say automation isn't without its challenges. For a business to get to a position where it's ready to implement automated systems, it's costly and time consuming. Robotworx, an ‘off-the-shelf' robotics company serving the industrial sector, suggests a single automated robotic arm with welding capabilities costs between $30,000 and $50,000 - as a conservative estimate. And you're not going to be getting much done with just one robot! Even once the systems are in place, it can be a while before any ROI is made. There's also an increased maintenance cost with automated machines. However, the long-term advantages by far outstrip the short-term costs and disadvantages.

Where Are We Now?Automation and smart-learning machines are becoming more and more prevalent within our everyday lives. Take a look around you and the odds are that automation, in some shape or form, has touched and sculpted almost everything you lay your eyes upon. From the use of the manufacturing automatons which produced your IKEA desk, to the automated retail checkout processes on your smartphone, even the coffee machine which helped you wake up this morning. Automation has become a pivotal part of everyday life.

It has helped to reduce the cost of basic necessities, such as food and drink, and made what would once have been deemed luxuries an everyday occurrence. Imagine, for example, being able to own a computer without the aid of the automated processes that have enabled us to shrink processors, speed up production and reduce costs.

Moreover, we're not just seeing advances impact upon the manufacturing and commercial worlds. As we move further into this digital age, we've needed to develop smarter software and smarter solutions. We've needed to streamline and optimize legacy programs and systems, making them ready to cope with the demands of the user of the day. Automation has been key to enabling this, as it's found ways of handing back man-hours to the company - man-hours which previously would have been spent on tedious, repetitive tasks. Our ability to automate software processes has enabled us to revolutionize the way we interact, communicate and do business via technology.

More of the same, only better, please.As we begin to repy on automation more and more, undoubtedly things will change. Let's take the retail environment, as an example. What if highly repetitive strenuous manual tasks, such as stock replenishment, became entirely automated? Hypothetically, that would free up members of staff, allowing them to focus on something more interpersonal, such as sales, driving the business.

The likelihood is the nature of what we consider work will change; jobs will change. Some may admittedly be lost altogether, but in turn, entirely new industries will be introduced. As our concept of work changes, the economy will too - it should expand, while the effort we exert to drive it should shrink. The march towards automation isn't about stripping jobs from people, it's about streamlining and increasing productivity.

As I said, there's nothing to fear from our Robot Overlords. If anything, we should be welcoming them with open arms. All hail the T-800.

DXWorldEXPO LLC, the producer of the world's most influential technology conferences and trade shows has announced the conference tracks for CloudEXPO|DXWorldEXPO 2018 New York.

DXWordEXPO New York 2018, colocated with CloudEXPO New York 2018will be held November 11-13, 2018, in New York City.

Digital Transformation (DX) is a major focus with the introduction of DXWorldEXPO within the program. Successful transformation requires a laser focus on being data-driven and on using all the tools available that enable transformation if they plan to survive over the long term.

A total of 88% of Fortune 500 companies from a generation ago are now out of business. Only 12% still survive. Similar percentages are found throughout enterprises of all sizes.

DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO 2018 New Yorkcover all of these tools, with the most comprehensive program and with 222 rockstar speakers throughout our industry presenting 22 Keynotes and General Sessions, 200 Breakout Sessions along 10 Tracks, as well as our signature Power Panels. Our Expo Floor brings together the world's leading companies throughout the world of Cloud Computing, DevOps, FinTech, Digital Transformation, and all they entail.

As your enterprise creates a vision and strategy that enables you to create your own unique, long-term success, learning about all the technologies involved is essential. Companies today not only form multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architectures, but create them with built-in cognitive capabilities.

Cloud-Native thinking is now the norm in financial services, manufacturing, telco, healthcare, transportation, energy, media, entertainment, retail and other consumer industries, as well as the public sector.

CloudEXPO is the world's most influential technology event where Cloud Computing was coined over a decade ago and where technology buyers and vendors meet to experience and discuss the big picture of Digital Transformation and all of the strategies, tactics, and tools they need to realize their goals.

FinTech Is Now Part of the DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO Program!

Financial enterprises in New York City, London, Singapore, and other world financial capitals are embracing a new generation of smart, automated FinTech that eliminates many cumbersome, slow, and expensive intermediate processes from their businesses.

Accordingly, attendees at the upcoming 22nd CloudEXPO | DXWorldEXPONovember 11-13, 2018 in New York City will find fresh new content in two new tracks called:

FinTechEXPO

New York Blockchain Event

which will incorporate FinTech and Blockchain, as well as machine learning, artificial intelligence and deep learningin these two distinct tracks.

FinTech brings efficiency as well as the ability to deliver new services and a much improved customer experience throughout the global financial services industry. FinTech is a natural fit with cloud computing, as new services are quickly developed, deployed, and scaled on public, private, and hybrid clouds.

More than US$20 billion in venture capital is being invested in FinTech this year. DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPOare pleased to bring you the latest FinTech developments as an integral part of our program.

DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO are accepting speaking submissions for this new track, so please visit Cloud Computing Expo for the latest information or contact us at info@dxworldexpo.com.

22nd International DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO, taking place November 11-13, 2018, in New York City, will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world.

Cloud computing is now being embraced by a majority of enterprises of all sizes. Yesterday's debate about public vs. private has transformed into the reality of hybrid cloud: a recent survey shows that 74% of enterprises have a hybrid cloud strategy. Meanwhile, 94% of enterprises are using some form of XaaS - software, platform, and infrastructure as a service.

With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend and learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.

Every Global 2000 enterprise in the world is now integrating cloud computing in some form into its IT development and operations. Midsize and small businesses are also migrating to the cloud in increasing numbers.

Companies are each developing their unique mix of cloud technologies and services, forming multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architectures and deployments across all major industries. Cloud-driven thinking has become the norm in financial services, manufacturing, telco, healthcare, transportation, energy, media, entertainment, retail and other consumer industries, and the public sector.

Sponsorship Opportunities

DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO are the single show where technology buyers and vendors can meet to experience and discus cloud computing and all that it entails. Sponsors of DXWorldEXPO | CloudEXPO will benefit from unmatched branding, profile building and lead generation opportunities through:

Featured on-site presentation and ongoing on-demand webcast exposure to a captive audience of industry decision-makers.

Showcase exhibition during our new extended dedicated expo hours

Breakout Session Priority scheduling for Sponsors that have been guaranteed a 35-minute technical session

DXWorldEXPO LLC is a Lighthouse Point, Florida-based trade show company and the creator of DXWorldEXPO - Digital Transformation Conference & Expo. The company produces and presents CloudEXPO, DevOpsSummit, FinTechEXPO - Blockchain Event, the world's most influential conferences and trade shows.

About Automic BlogAutomic, a leader in business automation, helps enterprises drive competitive advantage by automating their IT factory - from on-premise to the Cloud, Big Data and the Internet of Things.

With offices across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Automic powers over 2,600 customers including Bosch, PSA, BT, Carphone Warehouse, Deutsche Post, Societe Generale, TUI and Swisscom. The company is privately held by EQT. More information can be found at www.automic.com.

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